THE leader of an evangelical church in Sri Lanka that was bombed on Easter Sunday has offered forgiveness to the attackers.
Pastor Roshan Mahesen, who lost many members of his congregation, said: “We are hurt. We are angry also. But still, as the senior pastor of Zion Church Batticaloa, the whole congregation and every family affected, we say to the suicide bomber, and also to the group that sent the suicide bomber, that we love you and we forgive you. No matter what you have done to us, we love you, because we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Jesus Christ on the cross said: ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.’ We also, who follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ, we say, ‘Lord, forgive these people.’”
In a video shared by Sri Lankan Christian ministry ‘The Life’, Pastor Roshan continued: “We will stand and continue what the Lord has purposed in our life and we are ready, and we will continue to fulfil the mission the Lord has given us.”
“No matter what you have done to us, we love you”
Pastor Chrishanthy Sathiyaraj, leader of a Sri Lankan church which brings together Tamil and Sinhalese Christians, interviewed Pastor Roshan and commented, “These atrocious attacks have shocked the world, the violence has impacted my friends and family and many in the Sri Lankan community in the UK know people who have died.
“If only we can hear Pastor Roshan’s words and respond with forgiveness instead of hate. Jesus Christ calls us to love even those who persecute us, and what is more powerful than to choose to love in circumstances such as these? Let’s forgive, stand together and build the kingdom of God. Don’t give up.”